AFF repeats and remembering procedures

[Brodes 0]

Just wanting to know the average rate that people have to repeat AFF stages and what the causes are (so it might not happen to me
Also i'm worried that with some many things to remember during freefall and deployment does it ever become second nature so you can really relax and enjoy jumping? Im worried ill get so stressed out making sure if done everything that i wont even notice im in the air heh

Maybe i should just shutup and jump

[Fast 0]

I think it would be hard to not notice that your in the air. As for if things will just come to you, I have to say yes. There is a lot to remember but you will ingrane that knowledge into your head and be able to retrieve it when you need it, so yep... second nature.

Its hard to relax at first, but relaxing is the key to having a good jump, and it will come to you eventually.

~D
Where troubles melt like lemon drops Away above the chimney tops That's where you'll find me.
Swooping is taking one last poke at the bear before escaping it's cave - davelepka

[Brian425 0]

I am just off student status and I am working on my coach jumps. I did not have to repeat any of my student jumps. I did decide to repeat my level 11 coach jump (adjusting fall rate). I just was not able to slow my fall rate and be stable. I talked with my coach and we decided to do the jump again. Plus Baker was fun to jump with.

For me the key was to really practice the dive on the ground. I would practice until I could do it without thinking at all. For me in the first few jumps there is so much on your mind that I wanted to have the jump down.

The key is to study the jump and then try to relax while you are in the air. I know it's had; but, relaxing makes everything easier.

Some keys that will help you pass all levels are very basic. BE ALTITUDE AWARE AND PULL! If you always acomplish these two things, you will do fine.

Be safe, have fun and stick with it. I know it's hard. In the end, it's worth it.

The only time you should look down on someone is when you are offering them your hand.

[metalslug 36]

There are several threads on this, I'll try to remember the highlights of each.

Different dropzones and instructors are not equaly 'strict' when evaluating acceptable performance on an AFF level. Some instructors may fail you on a level while others let you slide through. At some dropzones, almost every student repeats at least one level. At my own dropzone the ratio is about 1 in 5 students that need to repeat a level somewhere.

Level 4 or 5, the jump on which you are released by your instructor(s) is generaly regarded as the 'toughest' level to pass, partly because it's an important psychological step to not have them holding you anymore.

Level 6 is seen by many students as both their scariest level (before exit at least) and their most enjoyable level. Students may feel apprehensive about doing their first unstable exit and being expected to deliberately go unstable by doing backloops. When they get it right though it feels magic and a big psychological barrier is then overcome in the knowledge that they can safely recover from unstable positions.

So far as I have seen and read on these forums, the most common general problem that can occur on any level is poor leg position, one leg raised slightly higher than the other causing an uncontrolled turn. This is sometimes associated with the student being too tense and stressed.. which is why the most common advice given on these forums is...
Relax.

I am not an instructor though, the comments above are a collection of my own experiences and the posts made by other DZ.com folks on this subject over the last 6 months.

[696GrocuttT 0]

Well my record was 10 rejumps (4 x level 3, 4 x level 4, 4 x level 5, 1 x level 8).

It started off with me getting into a spins (over and over again). It all started to get better when I managed to relax. I'd had a really bad weekend and it was my last jump on the sunday. I basically decided to give up trying to stop the spins and have one jump just looking at the view (trying to salvage at least something good from the weekend). And before I knew what was happening I was falling down the tube with both instructors released.

I had a similar experience with my level 4 and 5's. For me there was a lot to be said for not trying to hard

It's the easiest thing to say but the hardest thing to do (well at least it was for me). But just relax and its easy!

[freefaller76 0]

Just finished PFF this summer and I had the same problem. I found some of the jumps "stressful" because you have so much to remember. Once I finished, I did a few solo jumps before moving on to coached jumps to gain a little confidence on my own. I found it very relaxing and fun because I did what I wanted and didn't have to worry about passing/failing anything.

[cruzit 0]

I agree, there is a lot of stuff to learn and not really a lot of time to learn it.

Most DZ student programs will give you a study guide for each of the levels. Use it, study it!! Have the skydive sequence memorized before you get to the DZ. Not only will this allow your instructor time to work with you on body positioning and timing, but if you have the skydive memorized...there is less of a chance you will brain lock.

Most instructors are not looking for perfection. Heck, I tell my students to expect to make a mistake or two. After all, if you were perfect, what would you need an instructor for???

Remember, the most important thing on the skydive is the pull. All the rest is icing. If you have to repeat a dive, it happens...but don't get obsessed about it.

Relax...have fun...and go for it

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[kai2k1 0]

Dont worry about it. Just go up there RELAX and most importantly HAVE FUN. I'm a firm believer that negativity will make you have to repeat, and im speaking from experience (Level 2&3 twice). Just visualize the perfect skydive and you'll do fine..

There's no truer sense of flying than sky diving," Scott Cowan

[Zoter 0]

I had one repeat on my AFF....level 6 Instructor told me why...and I agree completely
I had a bit of an incident on my Level 5 which was hanging in my head I guess....
Just got to agree with all the posts here...dirtdive dirtdive...dirtdive and visualize !
For me the biggest key to all this was getting over an unstable exit...I felt so much happier after I knew I could recover from that!

[kelpdiver 2]

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Dont worry about it. Just go up there RELAX and most importantly HAVE FUN. I'm a firm believer that negativity will make you have to repeat, and im speaking from experience (Level 2&3 twice). Just visualize the perfect skydive and you'll do fine..

The catch, of course, is that you can't force yourself to relax, or have fun.

Finding a way around what is blocking you is the challenge, and you get only 30-40 seconds of useful time per jump to do it. I'm going to try helping myself with some wind tunnel time (anyone been to the Vegas one?)

[Tonto 1]

As an AFF I, the things most important to me are altitude awareness, solo pulls and a good body position. If a turn is not perfect, or a backloop slightly off heading, I'll mention it in the debrief, tell you how to correct it, but will probably pass you - especially if I can build that task in on another level.

Turns, etc, will never be perfect. If they were, teams like "Majik" would not be out there practicing.

Set out with "safe and independant" being your AFF goal - and nomatter what else happens - remember that you're doing this for fun. If it's not fun - there are cheaper ways of having a crap time.

t

It's the year of the Pig.